Robert J. Cashman Papers, 1928-1988

Repository

Papers created by

Cashman, Robert J., 1906-1988

Size of collection

19 boxes (including two legal size)

Short description of collection

This collection documents the work of Robert J. Cashman, who
served as a professor of physics at Northwestern University from 1936 to 1975. His early
research interests focused on photovoltaic and photoemissive cells. Later, he developed a
more stable thallous sulfide photoconductive cell. His cells were widely used in optical
communications systems and in infrared astronomy. These papers fill 19 boxes and span
the period 1928-1988. The papers are organized in six main categories: biographical
materials, education files, correspondence, teaching files, research and consulting files, and
publications.

Language(s) of collection

English

Collection number:

Robert Joseph Cashman was born on September 27, 1906, in Wilmington, Ohio. After
obtaining his B.A. (physics) at Bethany College in 1928, he entered Northwestern University
where he earned his M.A. (1930) and Ph.D. (1935) in physics.

In 1936 Cashman joined the Northwestern faculty as an assistant professor of physics. He
was promoted to associate professor in 1941 and professor in 1947. He retired in 1975 as
professor emeritus.

Cashman's early research interests in photovoltaic and photoemissive cells culminated in
the development of cells which were used early in World War II. The gradual deterioration of
these cells, however, led him to develop a stable thallous sulfide photoconductive cell which was
more useful. During and after the War Cashman directed several military research projects along
these and related lines. His cells were widely used in optical communications systems and in
infrared astronomy. He obtained seven patents for these cells.

On June 8, 1940, Cashman married Agnes E. Jones (see Series 25/5), an assistant
professor of physical education at Northwestern. The couple had two children, John and Linda
Cashman Modine.

The Robert J. Cashman Papers fill 19 boxes and span the period 1928-1988. The papers
are organized in six main categories: biographical materials, education files, correspondence,
teaching files, research and consulting files, and publications.

The biographical materials include curricula vitae, clippings (primarily about his research,
although there are here several articles setting Cashman's work in the development of the related
fields), and programs of meetings at which he spoke.

The education files consist primarily of Cashman's notes on lectures and reading, and
laboratory experiments.

The general correspondence concerns teaching, research, and other professional matters;
there is little personal correspondence. Of interest is a small collection of letters related to
Cashman's joint work with Walter S. Huxford on a "sunburnometer."

The research and consulting files occupy nine boxes and form the largest category in the
papers. The bulk of these materials consists of reports, correspondence, experimental data, and
material relating to administrative matters. In addition to his research for the Navy, Army Air
Force, and the National Defense Research Committee, Cashman worked as a consultant for
Capehart-Farnsworth Corp., General Electric Co., and the Research Corp. Four substantial
folders of correspondence and patent materials concern Cashman's legal advisors, Mann and
Brown. The documents in these files deal with infringements, potential infringements, and other
procedures. Users interested in these aspects of Cashman's work should also consult specific
patent records (Box 16, Folders 1-9) and pertinent periods in the general correspondence. Eleven
of Cashman's laboratory notebooks (or sections thereof) are located in the two legal size boxes
(Boxes 18 and 19).

The publications contain drafts and reprints of some of Cashman's articles and related
correspondence.

Occupation terms

Genre terms

Several group and individual photographs of Cashman were transferred to the Archives'
photographic collection. A disk for a prototype electronic organ (which was to utilize a
photovoltaic cell) was transferred to the Archives' audiovisual collection. Approximately 20
linear inches of materials related to Northwestern University, but not to Cashman, were
transferred to the Archives general files. Approximately 50 linear inches of duplicate and 30
linear inches of extraneous materials were discarded.

The Robert J. Cashman Papers were donated to the University Archives by John E.
Cashman (son) and Linda Cashman Modine (daughter) on August 28, 1989, June 19, 1992, May
13, 1993, July 16, 1993, and July 20, 1993 as Accession nos. 89-166, 92-57, and 93-67, and
93-95.

Title

Finding Aid to the Robert J. Cashman Papers, 1906-1988

Sponsor

This finding aid has been encoded by the Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics as part of a collaborative
project supported by a grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities, an independent federal agency. Collaboration
members in 1999 consisted of: American Institute of Physics, California Institute of Technology, Harvard University,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Rice University, University of Alaska, University of Illinois,
and University of Texas.

Publisher

American Institute of Physics.Center for History of Physics.

One Physics EllipseCollege Park, MD 20740nbl@aip.org

Published in 2000

Encoding Information

Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD v.1.0 by Clay Redding on
November 2, 1999
from an existing finding aid using
NoteTab Pro and C++ scripts created by James P. Tranowski (provided by Elizabeth Dow, Special Collections, University of
Vermont). Any revisions made to this finding aid occurred as part of the editing and encoding process.

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